Zeitschriftenaufsätze

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the advantageous applicability of the bicomplex analysis in the context of the Finite Element Method (FEM). This method can be applied for wave propagation problems in various environments. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the bicomplex number system is introduced and accordingly the differential equation for time-harmonic Maxwell’s equations in homogeneous media is derived in detail. Besides that, numerical simulations of wave propagation are performed and compared to the traditional approach based on classical FEM related to the Helmholtz equation. The appropriate error norm is investigated for different discretizations. Findings The results show that the use of bicomplex analysis in FEM leads to the higher accuracy of the electromagnetic field determination compared to the traditional Helmholtz approach. By using the bicomplex-valued formulation, the complex-valued electric and magnetic fields can be found directly and no additional FEM calculations are necessary to get the whole field. Originality/value The direct bicomplex formulation overcomes the use of the second order derivatives, which leads to the higher accuracy. In general, accurate calculations of the wave propagation in FEM is still an open problem and the approach described in this paper is a contribution to this class of problems.

Varying compliance (VC) is an unavoidable form of parametric excitation in rolling bearings and can affect the stability and safety of the bearing and its supporting rotor system. To date, we have investigated VC primary resonance in ball bearings, and in this paper other parametric VC resonance types are addressed. For a classical ball bearing model with Hertzian contact and clearance nonlinearities between the rolling elements and raceway, the harmonic balance and alternating frequency/time domain (HB-AFT) method and Floquet theory are adopted to analyze the VC parametric resonances and their stabilities. It is found that the 1/2-order subharmonic resonances, 2-order superharmonic resonances, and various VC combination resonances, such as the 1-order and 2-order summed types, can be excited, thus resulting in period-1, period-2, period-4, period-8, period-35, quasi-period, and even chaotic VC motions in the system. Furthermore, the bifurcation and hysteresis characteristics of complex VC resonant responses are discussed, in which cyclic fold, period doubling, and the second Hopf bifurcation can occur. Finally, the global involution of VC resonances around bearing clearance-free operations (i.e., adjusting the bearing clearance to zero or one with low interference) are provided. The overall results extend the investigation of VC parametric resonance cases in rolling bearings.

Particulate polymers at the nanoscale are exceedingly promising for diversified functional applications ranging from biomedical and energy to sensing, labeling, and catalysis. Tailored structural features (i.e., size, shape, morphology, internal softness, interior cross-linking, etc.) determine polymer nanoparticles' impact on the cargo loading capacity and controlled/sustained release, possibility of endocytosis, degradability, and photostability. The designed interfacial features, however (i.e., stimuli-responsive surfaces, wrinkling, surface porosity, shell-layer swellability, layer-by-layer surface functionalization, surface charge, etc.), regulate nanoparticles interfacial interactions, controlled assembly, movement and collision, and compatibility with the surroundings (e.g., solvent and biological environments). These features define nanoparticles' overall properties/functions on the basis of homogeneity, stability, interfacial tension, and minimization of the surface energy barrier. Lowering of the resultant outcomes is directly influenced by inhomogeneity in the structural and interfacial design through the structure-function relationship. Therefore, a key requirement is to produce well-defined polymer nanoparticles with controlled characteristics. Polymers are amorphous, flexible, and soft, and hence controlling their structural/interfacial features through the single-step process is a challenge. The microfluidics reaction strategy is very promising because of its wide range of advantages such as efficient reactant mixing and fast phase transfer. Overall, this feature article highlights the state-of-the-art synthetic features of polymer nanoparticles with perspectives on their advanced applications.

Vapor compression systems (VCS) cover a wide range of applications and consume large amounts of energy. In this context, previous research identified the optimization of the condenser fans speed as a promising measure to improve the energy efficiency of VCS. The present paper introduces a steady-state modeling approach of an air-cooled VCS to predict the ideal condenser fan speed. The model consists of a hybrid characterization of the main components of a VCS and the optimization problem is formulated as minimizing the total energy consumption by respectively adjusting the condenser fan and compressor speed. In contrast to optimization strategies found in the literature, the proposed model does not relay on algorithms, but provides a single optimization term to predict the ideal fan speed. A detailed experimental validation demonstrates the feasibility of the model approach and further suggests that the ideal condenser fan speed can be calculated with sufficient precision, assuming constant evaporating pressure, compressor efficiency, subcooling, and superheating, respectively. In addition, a control strategy based on the developed model is presented, which is able to drive the VCS to its optimal operation. Therefore, the study provides a crucial input for set-point optimization and steady-state modeling of air-cooled vapor compression systems.